Private financial aid donors for college are foundations, corporations, civic clubs, and individuals that fund awards outside federal and state systems. Groups such as the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund set their own criteria, pick their own recipients, and send money directly to a college financial aid office.
These awards range from $500 community grants to renewable packages worth $55,000 a year. Each program runs on its own timeline and requires different materials, so applicants need to review each listing on its own terms.